MEALS on wheels are being served by Santa in Runnymede this Christmas.

Getting into the festive spirit, five council workers are donning red hats on Christmas Eve to deliver hot dinners to residents in the borough.

Andy Cryer, the borough council's head of community services, said: “We provide 150 meals per day, divided over the four rounds [which] our drivers start at 11am. They fill their vans with the frozen meals that are cooked thoroughly, then they are able to serve them around midday.

“We have more than 200 residents who are on our books though not all have meals every day. They often can not cook for themselves or they do not have others to help them.”

Meals cost £3.20 a day and can be ordered by calling the community meals supervisor on 01932 425010.

A number of council community service drivers have also volunteered to dress as Santa and give up Christmas dinner with their own families to drive elderly people in Runnymede to the Salvation Army Christmas festivities at Addlestone Community Centre.

The drivers will be accompanied by their wives who will be helping people get on and off the buses.

Salvation Army captain Hilary McClintock said: “We really appreciate the support the council and the volunteer drivers and passenger assistants are providing for the local people joining us.”

The Salvation Army Christmas festivities start at the centre in Garfield Road, Addlestone, at 11.30am on Christmas Day.